Floating Action Buttons

ABSTRACT

A user interface (UI) includes floating action buttons. Respective hot zones are established for associated respective UI elements. When a focus is targeting (e.g., located at) a given hot zone, one or more floating action buttons that are associated therewith are presented as part of the UI. Activation of a particular action button of the one or more floating action buttons causes an action corresponding to the particular action button to be implemented. In an example implementation, the actions available through the one or more floating action buttons may be context-sensitive such that the actions thereof are tailored to the type of item corresponding to the UI element (e.g., an icon, a graphical element, a text portion, a screen area, etc.).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation of, and claims priority to,U.S. application Ser. No. 11/026,349, filed on Dec. 30, 2004, entitled“Floating Action Buttons,” which is incorporated by reference herein inits entirety, and the benefit of the filing date of which is claimed tothe fullest extent permitted.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates in general to a user interface (UI) and inparticular, by way of example but not limitation, to a user interfacefor a computing device that presents floating action buttons.

BACKGROUND

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have been employed as computerinterfaces for over two decades. GUIs usually include icons thatvisually provide access to files and features, menus that textuallyprovide access to files and features, and a pointer icon for selectingthe individual icons and menu choices. Two decades ago, the total numberof features offered by computer software was sufficiently limited suchthat they could be presented using the available screen space. However,as the numbers and types of features offered by software multiplied andproliferated, the available screen space was gradually consumed.Unfortunately, the available screen space for GUIs eventually becameinadequate.

Accordingly, there is a need for schemes, mechanisms, techniques, etc.that can efficiently and conveniently enable GUIs to enable access tothe multiplicity of features offered by today's software.

SUMMARY

A user interface (UI) includes floating action buttons. Respective hotzones are established for associated respective UI elements. When afocus is targeting (e.g., located at) a given hot zone, one or morefloating action buttons that are associated therewith are presented aspart of the UI. Activation of a particular action button of the one ormore floating action buttons causes an action corresponding to theparticular action button to be implemented. In an exampleimplementation, the actions available through the one or more floatingaction buttons may be context-sensitive such that the actions thereofare tailored to the type of item corresponding to the UI element (e.g.,an icon, a graphical element, a text portion, a screen area, etc.).

Other method, system, approach, apparatus, device, media, procedure,arrangement, etc. implementations are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference likeand/or corresponding aspects, features, and components.

FIG. 1 is an example of a general screenshot for a software programhaving a graphical user interface (GUI) capability that includes anavigation mechanism.

FIG. 2A is an example of floating action buttons being presented withregard to a hover over zone in a navigation environment.

FIG. 2B is an example of different sets of floating action buttons beingpresented with regard to different hover over zones in the navigationenvironment.

FIG. 3A is an example of floating action buttons being presented withregard to a hover over zone, a key indication zone, and a more generalhot zone.

FIG. 3B is an example of different sets of floating action buttons beingpresented with regard to different key indication zones in thenavigation environment.

FIG. 4 is an example of a context menu being presented responsive to aspecial activation of a floating action button.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a user interface component having anexample hot zone floating action button effectuator.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method forproviding software features using floating action buttons.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a computing (or general device)operating environment that is capable of (wholly or partially)implementing at least one aspect of floating action buttons as describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

The description herein is directed to graphical user interfaces (GUIs).As described above, the total numbers of as well as diverse types offeatures that are offered by software have been increasing. In fact,such features can be increased with virtually no limitation. On theother hand, the amount of screen space available to a GUI is limited byphysical monitor size and/or screen resolution.

Consequently, different schemes have been developed to increase thenumbers and manners of interfacing with programs through the limitedavailable screen space. For example, tool bar buttons are now present inmany different types of software programs. Also, right-clicking an iconor designated screen area can precipitate the presentation of a menu.

Schemes, mechanisms, techniques, etc. for a novel UI are describedherein. In a described implementation, when a pointer icon is locatedwithin a hover over zone of a GUI, floating action buttons are presentedon the display screen. Activating a floating action button causes anaction corresponding to the floating action button to be implemented. Ina preferred implementation, the floating action buttons that arepresented may be associated with the hover over zone such that thefloating action buttons, and their corresponding actions, arecontext-sensitive. In addition to being sensitive to a type of itemcorresponding to a hover over zone, floating action buttons can also besensitive to a mode (e.g., a status, a condition, a phase, etc.) inwhich a given program is currently operating or functioning.

When the pointer icon is moved beyond the hover over zone, the floatingaction buttons are removed from the display screen. Hence, the UI thatis displayed need not be cluttered with action buttons that are notcurrently relevant. Floating action buttons can be presented when theyare relevant and where they are relevant based on the hover over zoneand the location of the pointer icon.

More generally, floating action buttons are presented when a UI focus istargeting a hot zone. The UI focus can result from a key focus, apointer focus (e.g., icon), and so forth. The hot zone can correspond toa hover over zone, a key indication zone, and so forth. This terminologyis described further herein below with particular reference to FIG. 3A.

Example GUI Screenshot

FIG. 1 is an example of a general screenshot 100 for a software program104 having a graphical user interface (GUI) capability that includes anavigation mechanism. In a described implementation, software program104, as represented by its main window 102, is illustrated in anavigational or other mode in which an item (e.g., an entity, a file, anobject, another data structure, etc.) can be accessed. A first region,or navigation pane 112, includes a listing of entries (not explicitlyshown in FIG. 1). Each listed entry represents an item that can beaccessed or otherwise interacted with through the navigational mechanismof software program 104.

In general screenshot 100, main window 102 of software program 104includes a command space 108. Command space 108 may include a title bar,a menu area, and/or a tool bar, and so forth. Typically, a menu areaoffers drop-down menus, and a tool bar includes buttons that may beactivated by a user to cause software program 104 to perform variousactions as represented by the tool bar buttons. Command space 108 ofmain window 102 may also include standard window control buttons 106(e.g., those buttons that are determined by an operating system on whichsoftware program 104 is running). As illustrated, window control buttons106 include, from left to right, a minimization button, a maximizationbutton, and a closing or termination button.

In the illustrated navigation or other item-interaction mode, mainwindow 102 of software program 104 includes first region 112 thatfacilitates navigation. This first region comprises a pane or sub-windowof main window 102. Navigation pane 112 includes a listing of entries(not explicitly shown in FIG. 1) with each entry empowering the user tointeract with a represented item via a GUI as shown in generalscreenshot 100. Hence, the illustrated navigation pane 112 is an exampleof a navigation mechanism.

In a described navigational implementation, activation of an entry thatis listed within navigation pane 112 causes some aspect of the itemrepresented by the activated entry to be displayed in a second region114 of main window 102. The second region is termed display area 114. Asillustrated, item-related information 118 of the activated item isdisplayed within an accessed item sub-window 116. Item-relatedinformation 118 may be, for example, actual contents of the item (e.g.,data of a database object, text of a word processing document, etc.),properties information about the item, a description of items that arerelated to the activated item, accessing or other history of the item,and so forth.

Although navigation pane 112 is illustrated as being displayedvertically, it may alternatively be organized horizontally or in anotherformat. Furthermore, navigation pane 112 may alternatively be located ata different portion of main window 102 or in another window that isseparate there from. Additional example interaction mechanisms, as wellas example item-entry listings, are described herein below withparticular reference to FIGS. 2A-6 in the section entitled “FloatingAction Buttons”.

Although floating action buttons are described herein primarily in termsof being part of a navigation mechanism of a navigation pane 112,floating action buttons are not so limited. For example, floating actionbuttons may be utilized in conjunction with software features besidesnavigation. Such other features include, but are not limited to, wordprocessing features, spreadsheet features, gaming features, otherartistic and/or entertainment program features, educational programfeatures, and so forth. For instance, if a word processing program hasenabled hover over zones, then locating a pointer over a table mayprecipitate the presentation of floating action buttons relevant toformatting a table. If a game program has enabled hover over zones,locating a pointer over a tangible object may cause floating actionbuttons to be presented that enable manipulation of the tangible object.As these examples indicate, floating action buttons may be utilized atany part of a general screen or main window and need not be limited to aparticular region.

Although the accompanying figures and the description herein thatreferences them may illustrate and pertain to specific implementations(e.g., in which a region actually is or appears to be representedspecifically as a pane, a sub-window, or a separate window, or a portionthereof), it should be understood that graphical elements or regions canbe alternatively implemented as a different one or more of a pane, asub-window, a separate window, and so forth.

Floating Action Buttons

FIG. 2A is an example of floating action buttons 212 being presentedwith regard to a hover over zone 210 in a navigation environment 200.Navigation environment 200 includes a navigation pane 112. Navigationpane 112 includes one or more lists of entries for items. In a describedimplementation, the items comprise database objects that are listed ingroups. Alternatively, however, the items may comprise any software orlogical construct, and navigation pane 112 may be organized in a mannerother than a listing or a group of listings.

As illustrated, navigation pane 112 includes “N” groups of items. These“N” groups include the “A” items, the “B” items, the “C” items . . . the“N” items in a vertical listing from top to bottom. Navigation pane 112may also include other, e.g., navigational-related features, icons,and/or information.

FIG. 2A includes six (6) explanatory annotations 202-212 that areindicated by rectangles formed from medium dashed lines. Theseannotations 202-212 are not usually actually displayed onscreen;however, they may be displayed (e.g., as a contextual help balloon popupor similar). Although not explicitly shown, navigation pane 112 mayinclude window/sub-window and/or window pane type controls. For example,navigation pane 112 may include a horizontal and/or a vertical scrollbar; it may also include closing, minimizing, etc. buttons. Furthermore,navigation pane 112 may include a pane-style sliding mechanism forchanging the width (and/or height) of the visible pane portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A at annotation 202, each group of items islisted under a group heading 202. Each group heading 202 includes acollapsing icon or an expansion icon. The “A” and “C” groups have itemsthereof displayed, so their group headings 202 include a collapsing iconthat can be activated to hide their items. The “B” and “N” groups do nothave any of their items displayed, so their group headings 202 includean expansion icon that can be activated to reveal their items.

As indicated at annotation 206, each item that is displayed has acorresponding item entry 206 under its associated group heading 202.Items may be associated with groups in a variety of manners and for avariety of reasons. Each item may be associated with more than onegroup. Items may also be associated with a miscellaneous or anun-assigned group. By way of example only, groups may be separated orsegmented by item type, item functionality, item creator, itemrelationship, and so forth. The grouping may optionally beuser-selectable. In an example database implementation, the “A” Itemsgroup may be for tables, the “B” Items group may be for queries, the “C”Items group may be for reports, and so forth.

As indicated at annotation 204, a graphical item icon 204 is included aspart of the displayed entry listing for each item. In an exampleimplementation, there is a respective type of item icon 204corresponding to each respective type of item. As indicated atannotation 208, an example pointer icon 208 is also displayed. Theexample pointer icon 208 comprises an arrow in navigation environment200, but pointer icons may be realized in other shapes.

As indicated at annotation 210, a hover over zone exists around theentry for “Item C2”. Hover over zone 210 is indicated by the shortdashed lines forming the rectangle around the entry for “Item C2”. Theseshort dashed lines are not usually actually displayed onscreen. However,the short dashed lines or another highlighting technique (e.g., inversevideo, color change, luminosity change, etc.) may be implemented when apointer icon 208 enters and thereby engages a hover over zone 210.

As indicated at annotation 212, one or more floating action buttons 212are presented proximate to pointer icon 208 and/or hover over zone 210.In operation, a UI component establishes a hover over zone 210 proximateto (e.g., fully or partially around) a UI element of interest. A UIcomponent is described further herein below with particular reference toFIG. 5.

As illustrated, the UI element of interest is each listed item entry206. When a pointer icon 208 enters hover over zone 210, hover over zone210 is engaged and floating action buttons 212 are presented. Floatingaction buttons 212 may be presented (e.g., displayed) fully or partiallywithin hover over zone 210, or floating action buttons 212 may bepresented (e.g., displayed) outside of hover over zone 210.

Different types of action buttons may be implemented as floating actionbuttons 212. For example, floating action buttons 212 may be realized as(i) action buttons that provide a single predetermined action whenactivated, (ii) so-called split action buttons that can provide a singlepredetermined “primary” action when a first portion is activated or canproduce a pop-up menu with action options when an arrow or similarsecond portion of the action button is activated, (iii) some othertoolbar button metaphor, (iv) some combination thereof, (iv) and soforth.

In order to provide convenience to the user, floating action buttons 212are presented relatively close to pointer icon 208. This can typicallybe accomplished by displaying floating action buttons 212 at leastpartially within hover over zone 210. In fact, in a describedimplementation and as illustrated in FIG. 2A, floating action buttons212 are displayed within the associated hover over zone 210. If aportion of the text of item entry 206 is obscured by floating actionbuttons 212, ellipses can be added and/or the complete text of itementry 206 can be displayed in a bubble above or below hover over zone210 and/or floating action buttons 212 (or otherwise proximate to itementry 206).

In a described implementation, floating action buttons 212 are presentedonscreen so long as pointer icon 208 remains within hover over zone 210.When pointer icon 208 is moved outside of hover over zone 210, floatingaction buttons 212 are removed from the screen. While floating actionbuttons 212 are displayed, pointer icon 208 can be moved by the user toan action button of floating action buttons 212. Activation of an actionbutton from among the one or more floating action buttons 212 causes anaction corresponding to the activated action button to be implemented.This process is described further herein below with particular referenceto FIG. 6.

FIG. 2B is an example of different sets of floating action buttons212(1,2,3) being presented with regard to respective different hoverover zones 210(1,2,3) in a navigation environment having a navigationpane 112 in three different respective conditions (a,b,c). Eachnavigation pane condition 112(a,b,c) illustrates navigation pane 112 ata different respective time when pointer icon 208 (not explicitlydesignated in FIG. 2B to avoid cluttering the UI) is located in adifferent respective hover over zone 210(1,2,3).

It should be understood that hover over zones 210 are established by theUI when the UI is displayed. In other words, although only one hoverover zone 210(1) is specifically indicated in navigation pane 112(a),each item entry 206 has an associated hover over zone 210 that isestablished for it. A given hover over zone 210 becomes engaged whenpointer icon 208 is located within the given hover over zone 210.Optionally, in addition to the presentation of associated floatingaction buttons 212, the appearance of an engaged hover over zone 210 maybe changed (e.g., with inverse video, with a brightening or darkening,with expansion of the associated item entry 206, with some otherhighlighting, etc.).

Navigation pane 112(a) is in a first condition when pointer icon 208 islocated within hover over zone 210(1). When the user locates pointericon 208 within hover over zone 210(1), the floating action buttons212(1) that are associated therewith are presented. For the item entry206 of “Item C3”, there are two associated floating action buttons212(1). By way of example only, floating action buttons 212(1) include a“square” action button and a “hexagon” action button.

Navigation pane 112(b) is in a second condition when pointer icon 208 islocated within hover over zone 210(2). When the user locates pointericon 208 within hover over zone 210(2), the floating action buttons212(2) that are associated therewith are presented. For the item entry206 of “Item C2”, there are two associated floating action buttons212(2). By way of example only, floating action buttons 212(2) include a“square” action button and a “circle” action button.

Navigation pane 112(c) is in a third condition when pointer icon 208 islocated within hover over zone 210(3). When the user locates pointericon 208 within hover over zone 210(3), the floating action buttons212(3) that are associated therewith are presented. For the item entry206 of “Item A3”, there are three associated floating action buttons212(3). By way of example only, floating action buttons 212(3) include a“triangle” action button, a “hexagon” action button, and a “circle”action button.

As is apparent from the UI examples of FIG. 2B, a given set of floatingaction buttons 212 are removed from the display screen when pointer icon208 ceases to be located within the associated hover over zone 210.Additionally, it is apparent that each set of floating action buttons212 may have a different total number of action buttons. Also, theaction buttons of each set of floating action buttons 212 may providediffering features. Both of these differences may exist within a singlegroup of items as well as between two or more groups of items.

FIG. 3A is an example of floating action buttons 212 being presentedwith regard to a hover over zone 210, a key indication zone 308, and amore general hot zone 312. Seven (7) new annotations 302-314 areillustrated in FIG. 3A. Hover over zone 210 is depicted at the top ofFIG. 3A, key indication zone 308 is depicted in the middle, and hot zone312 is depicted at the bottom.

As described herein above, locating pointer icon or indicator 208 withinhover over zone 210 engages hover over zone 210 and precipitates thepresentation of floating action buttons 212. Annotation 302 shows thatthe location of pointer icon 208 denotes a pointer focus 302. Hence,when pointer focus 302 targets hover over zone 210, the presentation offloating action buttons 212 is triggered.

Although user interaction with a program via a GUI is often dominated bya pointer icon (at least with respect to icons and other graphicalelements), user interaction with a program via a GUI can usually also beaccomplished with keyboard commands. For example, a key focus can bemaneuvered around a GUI with the “Tab” key, with cursor arrow keys, andso forth. Once a key focus has been maneuvered such that it is targetinga desired key indication zone, the UI element corresponding to the keyindication zone can be activated with the “Enter” key.

Thus, floating action buttons 212 can also be implemented when a user isinteracting with the UI of software program 104 with keyboard commands.Annotation 306 shows a key indicator. Annotation 304 shows that thelocation of key indicator 306 denotes a key focus 304. Consequently,locating key indicator 306 at key indication zone 308 engages keyindication zone 308 and precipitates the presentation of floating actionbuttons 212. Hence, when key focus 304 targets key indication zone 308,the presentation of floating action buttons 212 is triggered.

Key indicators 306 can be displayed in any manner. Generally, a keyindicator is a way to highlight a UI element. Examples of key indicator306 highlighting include (i) an encircling (with a solid or dashed line)of a UI element; (ii) a changing of a foreground, background, textual,etc. color of a UI element; (iii) a darkening or brightening of a UIelement; (iv) a changing of the size of a UI element; (v) an expansionof the textual content of a UI element; (vi) an underlining or boldingof (especially a textual portion of) a UI element; (vii) applying agraphical halo effect to a UI element; (viii) inverse video (which isthe illustrated example); (ix) some combination thereof; and (x) soforth. It should be noted that such highlighting may be applied to allor a portion of a UI element.

A key indicator 306 may be maneuvered and/or activated in any of manypossible manners. For example, a key indicator 306 may be maneuveredwith arrow keys, with a tab key, with any other key, or with a keycombination. After one or more floating action buttons 212 have beenpresented, a key indicator 306 can also be maneuvered so as to highlightan action button of the one or more floating action buttons 212. Thehighlighted action button can also be selected by pressing a key (e.g.,the enter key) or a key combination.

To review both pointer-oriented and key-oriented approaches, keyindication zone 308 is analogous to hover over zone 210. Key focus 304is analogous to pointer focus 302, and key indicator 306 is analogous topointer icon or indicator 208. In this manner, floating action buttons212 can be presented when a pointer icon 208 is located within a hoverover zone 210. More generally, floating action buttons 212 can bepresented when a pointer focus 302 targets a hover over zone 210.Similarly, floating action buttons 212 can be presented when a keyindicator 306 is located at a key indication zone 308. More generally,floating action buttons 212 can be presented when a key focus 304targets a key indication zone 308.

The separate terminologies for the pointer-oriented approach and for thekey-oriented approach can be generalized so as to encompass both ofthese as well as other approaches to interacting with programs via GUIs.Annotation 314 shows that the location of a focus indicator 314 denotesa focus 310. Thus, floating action buttons 212 can be presented whenfocus indicator 314 is located at a hot zone 312.

More generally, floating action buttons 212 can be presented when focus310 targets a hot zone 312. Focus 310 may be a pointer focus 302, a keyfocus 304, some other focus type, and so forth. Focus indicator 314 maybe a pointer indicator (e.g., icon) 208, a key indicator 306, some otherindicator type, and so forth. Hot zone 312 may be a hover over zone 210,a key indication zone 308, some other zone type, and so forth. In otherwords, any user input device can be used to maneuver a focus indicator314 and to activate floating action buttons 212. Regardless,presentation of floating action buttons 212 is triggered when a focus310 targets a hot zone 312.

FIG. 3B is an example of different sets of floating action buttons212(1,2,3) being presented with regard to respective different keyindication zones 308(1,2,3) in a navigation environment having anavigation pane 112 in three different respective conditions (a,b,c)′.Each navigation pane condition 112(a,b,c)′ illustrates navigation pane112 at a different respective time when key indicator 306 is located ina different respective key indication zone 308(1,2,3).

Navigation pane 112(a)′ is in a first condition when key indicator 306is located at key indication zone 308(1). When the user locates keyindicator 306 at key indication zone 308(1), the floating action buttons212(1) that are associated therewith are presented. Navigation pane112(b)′ is in a second condition when a user moves key indicator 306(e.g., with an up arrow key) such that it is located at key indicationzone 308(2). When the user locates key indicator 306 at key indicationzone 308(2), the floating action buttons 212(2) that are associatedtherewith are presented. Navigation pane 112(c)′ is in a third conditionwhen key indicator 306 is located at key indication zone 308(3). Whenthe user locates key indicator 306 at key indication zone 308(3), thefloating action buttons 212(3) that are associated therewith arepresented.

FIG. 4 is an example 400 of a context menu 404 being presentedresponsive to a special activation of a floating action button 212. Ahot zone 312 is displayed as being engaged by the presence of a focusindicator 314 thereat. The hot zone 312 illustrated in example 400includes at least two floating action buttons 212. FIG. 4 also includestwo (2) annotations 402-404.

In a described implementation, floating action buttons 212 are activatedwith a standard activation mechanism or procedure. For example, a useremploying a mouse to maneuver a pointer icon 208 implementation of afocus indicator 314 may left-click the mouse. However, floating actionbuttons 212 may also be activated with a non-standard or specialactivation mechanism or procedure. For example, a user employing a mouseto maneuver a pointer icon 208 may right-click the mouse.

At annotation 402, a special (e.g., right-click) activation procedure isoccurring on an action button of floating action buttons 212. Whenmanipulating a GUI with a key-oriented approach, a special activation402 may be enabled or accomplished with, for example, the “Alt” key, afunction key, a “Shift+Enter” keyboard combination, any other key or keycombination that is so designated, and so forth. With a pointer-orientedapproach, instead of or in addition to right-clicking, a specialactivation 402 may be enabled or accomplished with, for example,clicking a third or other special mouse button, simultaneously pressinga key and a mouse button, and so forth. Regardless, the specialactivation 402 of a particular floating action button 212, as indicatedby arrow 406, precipitates the presentation of a context menu 404.

At annotation 404, a context menu that is related to thespecially-activated action button 212 is shown. Context menu 404includes one or more options (options #1-#4 as shown) that can beselected by the user. The one or more options of context menu 404 aremade available with regard to the feature provided by the particularspecially-activated action button 212 and/or with respect to an itemcorresponding to the item entry 206 that is associated with the engagedhot zone 312. Optionally, and as illustrated, each option of contextmenu 404 may be displayed with an icon that indicates the underlyingproperty or ability of the option.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a user interface component 504 having anexample hot zone floating action button effectuator 506. A device 502 isillustrated in FIG. 5. Device 502 may comprise a personal computer (PC),a personal digital assistant (PDA), a game machine, and so forth. Otherexamples of a device 502, as well as processor, media, component, etc.aspects of an example general device, are described herein below withparticular reference to FIG. 7 in a section entitled “Example OperatingEnvironment for Computer or Other Device”.

In a described implementation, user interface component 504 is capableof establishing a UI with and for device 502. An example of a UI is agraphical UI (GUI) that includes icons and a pointing element formanipulating the icons and/or for utilizing features of the GUI. Userinterface component 504 can also produce a UI (including a GUI) thatenables manipulation of icons and/or utilization of features with akeyboard or other user input device. Hot zone floating action buttoneffectuator 506 effectuates one or more implementations of the hot zoneand floating action button schemes, mechanisms, and techniques that aredescribed herein.

Hot zone floating action button effectuator 506 establishes hot zones312 proximate to selected UI elements of interest, such as icons, text,entries, and so forth. As illustrated, hot zone floating action buttoneffectuator 506 includes a focus monitor 508, an action button presenter510, and an action implementer 512. Focus monitor 508 monitors alocation of a focus indicator 314 to determine if/when the monitoredfocus indicator 314 enters or otherwise becomes located at a hot zone312.

After a focus indicator 314 is determined to have entered a particularhot zone 312 by focus monitor 508, action button presenter 510 presentsfloating action buttons 212 that are associated with the particular hotzone 312. Action button presenter 510 includes or otherwise has accessto a data structure 514 that maps UI elements (e.g., listed icon entries206) to floating action buttons 212 as described in action buttonsinformation 516.

Action buttons information 516 includes a description of each UI iconand represented action that correspond to a given action button. Hence,mapping data structure 514 links respective UI elements of interest toassociated respective floating action buttons, with each action buttoncorresponding to an action and a UI icon that is described by actionbuttons information 516. Consequently, action button presenter 510 canascertain at least one action button 212 that is associated with aparticular hot zone 312 that is engaged as a result of focus indicator314 being located at the particular hot zone 312. Action buttonpresenter 510 also causes the ascertained at least one action button 212to be displayed in relation to the UI element of interest.

After floating action buttons 212 are presented by action buttonpresenter 510, standard user activation of one of the presented floatingaction buttons 212 results in the corresponding action being implementedby action implementer 512. Such actions may include, but are not limitedto, accessing an item corresponding to a UI element, (re)formatting theitem, moving or grouping the item, running the item, previewing theitem, and so forth.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram 600 that illustrates an example of a method forproviding software features using floating action buttons. Flow diagram600 includes eight (8) primary blocks 602-616 and two (2) secondaryblocks 606(1) and 606(2). Although the actions of flow diagram 600 maybe performed in other environments and with a variety of hardware andsoftware combinations, FIGS. 1-5 are used in particular to illustratecertain aspects and examples of the method. By way of example only, theactions of flow diagram 600 may be performed by a software program 104comprising a database program that provides access to a database havingitems that comprise database objects.

At block 602, a focus location is monitored. For example, the locationof focus indicator 314 may be monitored by focus monitor 508. At block604, it is determined if the focus is targeting a hot zone. For example,focus monitor 508 may determine if focus 310 is targeting hot zone 312.For instance, it may be determined if focus indicator 314 is located athot zone 312. If not, then focus location monitoring is continued atblock 602.

If, on the other hand, it is determined (at block 604) that the focus istargeting a hot zone (e.g., that the location of the focus indicator isat a hot zone), then at block 606 one or more floating action buttonsare presented. For example, floating action buttons 212 may be presentedin relation to a UI element (e.g., an item entry 206) that is associatedwith hot zone 312.

The actions of blocks 606(1) and 606(2) illustrate an exampleimplementation of the action(s) of block 606. At block 606(1), theaction button(s) that are associated with the hot zone are ascertained.For example, using action buttons information 516 of data structure 514,action button presenter 510 may ascertain those action button(s) thatare associated with the hot zone 312 that has been engaged by thepresence of focus indicator 314 thereat. The mappings of data structure514 may initially be set based on context, subject-matter, etc. betweenan item corresponding to the UI element associated with hot zone 312 andthe actions that apply to that item.

At block 606(2), the ascertained associated action button(s) aredisplayed. For example, floating action buttons 212 may be displayed ona display screen (e.g., as part of a navigation pane 112). Floatingaction buttons 212 may be displayed to fully or partially overlap hotzone 312. Alternatively, they may be displayed so that they do notoverlap at all.

At block 608, it is determined if a presented floating action button hasbeen detected to be activated. For example, it may be detected whether afloating action button 212 has been activated. If so, then at block 612the activation is identified as being a standard activation or a specialactivation. If the floating action button is activated through astandard activation mechanism, then at block 614 an action correspondingto the activated floating action button is implemented. For example,action implementer 512 may implement an action corresponding to afloating action button 212 that has been detected to be activated with astandard mechanism.

If, on the other hand, a non-standard or special activation of afloating action button 212 is identified (at block 612), then at block616 a context menu that is related to the specially-activated actionbutton is presented. For example, upon special activation 402 of anaction button 212, display of a context menu 404 may be precipitated.

If, on the other hand, activation of a floating action button is notdetected (at block 608), then at block 610 it is checked if the focushas ceased targeting the hot zone (e.g., it is checked if the focusindicator has been moved outside the hot zone). For example, it may bechecked if focus 310 has ceased targeting hot zone 312. For instance, itmay be checked if focus indicator 314 has ceased to be at hot zone 312.If the focus has not ceased targeting the hot zone, then thefloating-action-button activation-detecting is repeated at block 608.If, on the other hand, the focus has ceased targeting the hot zone (aschecked at block 610), then the focus location monitoring continues atblock 602. Also, the currently-presented floating action buttons mayoptionally be removed from the UI (e.g., they may be deleted or erasedfrom the display screen) after the focus ceases targeting the currenthot zone.

The devices, actions, aspects, features, screen displays, procedures,modules, components, etc. of FIGS. 1-6 are illustrated in diagrams thatare divided into multiple blocks. However, the order, interconnections,interrelationships, layout, etc. in which FIGS. 1-6 are described and/orshown is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number ofthe blocks can be modified, combined, rearranged, augmented, omitted,etc. in any manner to implement one or more systems, methods, devices,procedures, media, apparatuses, arrangements, etc. for floating actionbuttons. Furthermore, although the description herein includesreferences to specific implementations (including a general device ofFIG. 7), the illustrated and/or described implementations can beimplemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combinationthereof and using any suitable pointer icon(s), application or operatingsystem program(s), GUI(s), data item type(s), standard and non-standardactivation mechanism(s), action button format(s), and so forth.

Example Operating Environment For Computer or Other Device

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computing (or general device) operatingenvironment 700 that is capable of (fully or partially) implementing atleast one system, device, apparatus, component, arrangement, protocol,approach, method, procedure, media, API, some combination thereof, etc.for floating action buttons as described herein. Operating environment700 may be utilized in the computer and network architectures describedbelow.

Example operating environment 700 is only one example of an environmentand is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of the applicable device (including computer, networknode, entertainment device, mobile appliance, general electronic device,etc.) architectures. Neither should operating environment 700 (or thedevices thereof) be interpreted as having any dependency or requirementrelating to any one or to any combination of components as illustratedin FIG. 7.

Additionally, implementations for floating action buttons may berealized with numerous other general purpose or special purpose device(including computing system) environments or configurations. Examples ofwell known devices, systems, environments, and/or configurations thatmay be suitable for use include, but are not limited to, personalcomputers, server computers, thin clients, thick clients, personaldigital assistants (PDAs) or mobile telephones, watches, hand-held orlaptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,set-top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, video game machines,game consoles, portable or handheld gaming units, network PCs,videoconferencing equipment, minicomputers, mainframe computers, networknodes, distributed or multi-processing computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, some combination thereof,and so forth.

Implementations of floating action buttons may be described in thegeneral context of processor-executable instructions. Generally,processor-executable instructions include routines, programs, protocols,objects, interfaces, components, data structures, etc. that performand/or enable particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract datatypes. Floating action button realizations, as described in certainimplementations herein, may also be practiced in distributed processingenvironments where tasks are performed by remotely-linked processingdevices that are connected through a communications link and/or network.Especially but not exclusively in a distributed computing environment,processor-executable instructions may be located in separate storagemedia, executed by different processors, and/or propagated overtransmission media.

Example operating environment 700 includes a general-purpose computingdevice in the form of a computer 702, which may comprise any (e.g.,electronic) device with computing/processing capabilities. Thecomponents of computer 702 may include, but are not limited to, one ormore processors or processing units 704, a system memory 706, and asystem bus 708 that couples various system components includingprocessor 704 to system memory 706.

Processors 704 are not limited by the materials from which they areformed or the processing mechanisms employed therein. For example,processors 704 may be comprised of semiconductor(s) and/or transistors(e.g., electronic integrated circuits (ICs)). In such a context,processor-executable instructions may be electronically-executableinstructions. Alternatively, the mechanisms of or for processors 704,and thus of or for computer 702, may include, but are not limited to,quantum computing, optical computing, mechanical computing (e.g., usingnanotechnology), and so forth.

System bus 708 represents one or more of any of many types of wired orwireless bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, apoint-to-point connection, a switching fabric, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, such architectures mayinclude an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, a Video ElectronicsStandards Association (VESA) local bus, a Peripheral ComponentInterconnects (PCI) bus also known as a Mezzanine bus, some combinationthereof, and so forth.

Computer 702 typically includes a variety of processor-accessible media.Such media may be any available media that is accessible by computer 702or another (e.g., electronic) device, and it includes both volatile andnon-volatile media, removable and non-removable media, and storage andtransmission media.

System memory 706 includes processor-accessible storage media in theform of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 710, and/ornon-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) 712. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 714, containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within computer 702, such asduring start-up, is typically stored in ROM 712. RAM 710 typicallycontains data and/or program modules/instructions that are immediatelyaccessible to and/or being presently operated on by processing unit 704.

Computer 702 may also include other removable/non-removable and/orvolatile/non-volatile storage media. By way of example, FIG. 7illustrates a hard disk drive or disk drive array 716 for reading fromand writing to a (typically) non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not separately shown); a magnetic disk drive 718 for reading from andwriting to a (typically) removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 720(e.g., a “floppy disk”); and an optical disk drive 722 for reading fromand/or writing to a (typically) removable, non-volatile optical disk 724such as a CD, DVD, or other optical media. Hard disk drive 716, magneticdisk drive 718, and optical disk drive 722 are each connected to systembus 708 by one or more storage media interfaces 726. Alternatively, harddisk drive 716, magnetic disk drive 718, and optical disk drive 722 maybe connected to system bus 708 by one or more other separate or combinedinterfaces (not shown).

The disk drives and their associated processor-accessible media providenon-volatile storage of processor-executable instructions, such as datastructures, program modules, and other data for computer 702. Althoughexample computer 702 illustrates a hard disk 716, a removable magneticdisk 720, and a removable optical disk 724, it is to be appreciated thatother types of processor-accessible media may store instructions thatare accessible by a device, such as magnetic cassettes or other magneticstorage devices, flash memory, compact disks (CDs), digital versatiledisks (DVDs) or other optical storage, RAM, ROM, electrically-erasableprogrammable read-only memories (EEPROM), and so forth. Such media mayalso include so-called special purpose or hard-wired IC chips. In otherwords, any processor-accessible media may be utilized to realize thestorage media of the example operating environment 700.

Any number of program modules (or other units or sets ofprocessor-executable instructions) may be stored on hard disk 716,magnetic disk 720, optical disk 724, ROM 712, and/or RAM 710, includingby way of general example, an operating system 728, one or moreapplication programs 730, other program modules 732, and program data734. These processor-executable instructions may include, for example,one or more of: a software program having a navigation pane, a UIcomponent or portion thereof, a data structure mapping UI elements toassociated action buttons, a hot zone floating action button effectuator506, and so forth.

A user may enter commands and/or information into computer 702 via inputdevices such as a keyboard 736 and a pointing device 738 (e.g., a“mouse”). Other input devices 740 (not shown specifically) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, serial port, videocamera, scanner, and/or the like. These and other input devices areconnected to processing unit 704 via input/output interfaces 742 thatare coupled to system bus 708. However, input devices and/or outputdevices may instead be connected by other interface and bus structures,such as a parallel port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an infrared port, an IEEE 1394 (“Firewire”) interface, an IEEE 802.11wireless interface, a Bluetooth® wireless interface, and so forth.

A monitor/view screen 744 or other type of display device may also beconnected to system bus 708 via an interface, such as a video adapter746. Video adapter 746 (or another component) may be or may include agraphics card for processing graphics-intensive calculations and forhandling demanding display requirements. Typically, a graphics cardincludes a graphics processing unit (GPU), video RAM (VRAM), etc. tofacilitate the expeditious display of graphics and performance ofgraphics operations. In addition to monitor 744, other output peripheraldevices may include components such as speakers (not shown) and aprinter 748, which may be connected to computer 702 via input/outputinterfaces 742.

Computer 702 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computingdevice 750. By way of example, remote computing device 750 may be aperipheral device, a personal computer, a portable computer (e.g.,laptop computer, tablet computer, PDA, mobile station, etc.), a palm orpocket-sized computer, a watch, a gaming device, a server, a router, anetwork computer, a peer device, another network node, or another devicetype as listed above, and so forth. However, remote computing device 750is illustrated as a portable computer that may include many or all ofthe elements and features described herein with respect to computer 702.

Logical connections between computer 702 and remote computer 750 aredepicted as a local area network (LAN) 752 and a general wide areanetwork (WAN) 754. Such networking environments are commonplace inoffices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, the Internet,fixed and mobile telephone networks, ad-hoc and infrastructure wirelessnetworks, mesh networks, other wireless networks, gaming networks, somecombination thereof, and so forth. Such networks and logical andphysical communications connections are additional examples oftransmission media.

When implemented in a LAN networking environment, computer 702 isusually connected to LAN 752 via a network interface or adapter 756.When implemented in a WAN networking environment, computer 702 typicallyincludes a modem 758 or other component for establishing communicationsover WAN 754. Modem 758, which may be internal or external to computer702, may be connected to system bus 708 via input/output interfaces 742or any other appropriate mechanism(s). It is to be appreciated that theillustrated network connections are examples and that other manners forestablishing communication link(s) between computers 702 and 750 may beemployed.

In a networked environment, such as that illustrated with operatingenvironment 700, program modules or other instructions that are depictedrelative to computer 702, or portions thereof, may be fully or partiallystored in a remote media storage device. By way of example, remoteapplication programs 760 reside on a memory component of remote computer750 but may be usable or otherwise accessible via computer 702. Also,for purposes of illustration, application programs 730 and otherprocessor-executable instructions such as operating system 728 areillustrated herein as discrete blocks, but it is recognized that suchprograms, components, and other instructions reside at various times indifferent storage components of computing device 702 (and/or remotecomputing device 750) and are executed by processor(s) 704 of computer702 (and/or those of remote computing device 750).

Although systems, media, devices, methods, procedures, apparatuses,techniques, schemes, approaches, procedures, arrangements, and otherimplementations have been described in language specific to structural,logical, algorithmic, and functional features and/or diagrams, it is tobe understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or diagrams described.Rather, the specific features and diagrams are disclosed as exemplaryforms of implementing the claimed invention.

1. A processor-accessible storage medium storing instructions that, whenexecuted by a processor, perform acts comprising: determining that afocus has entered a hot zone; causing presentation of one or morefloating action buttons associated with the hot zone; presenting uponactivation of one of the floating action buttons a group of items; andaffecting an object associated with the hot zone upon activation of oneof the group of items.
 2. The one or more processor-accessible storagemedia as recited in claim 1, further comprising: checking whether thefocus is no longer within the hot zone; and when the focus is no longerwithin the hot zone, removing the one or more floating action buttons.3. The one or more processor-accessible storage media as recited inclaim 1, wherein the affecting the select object comprises modifying thepresentation of the object associated with the hot zone.
 4. The one ormore processor-accessible storage media as recited in claim 1, whereinat least one of the group of items, when activated, presents anadditional sub-group of items.
 5. A processor-accessible storage mediumstoring instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs actscomprising: determining that an object has been selected by a user; andwhen a user focus has entered a hot zone representing the selectedobject, presenting one or more floating action buttons, the one or morefloating action buttons configured to present a group of items uponactivation.
 6. The one or more processor-accessible storage media asrecited in claim 5, wherein the object comprises at least a portion ofdata input by a user.
 7. The one or more processor-accessible storagemedia as recited in claim 5, further comprising: determining that thefocus has ceased targeting the hot zone; and when the focus has ceasedtargeting the hot zone, removing the one or more floating actionbuttons.
 8. The one or more processor-accessible storage media asrecited in claim 5, wherein one or more actions corresponding to the oneor more relevant floating action buttons correspond to the contents ofthe hot zone by context, subject matter, or both.
 9. The one or moreprocessor-accessible storage media as recited in claim 5, wherein thegroup of items proximate to the hover over zone is presented within abubble.
 10. The one or more processor-accessible storage media asrecited in claim 5, further comprising affecting the selected objectupon activation of one of the group of items.
 11. The one or moreprocessor-accessible storage media as recited in claim 5, furthercomprising presenting a focus indicator upon entry to the hot zone, thefocus indicator comprising: encircling the zone with a solid or dashedline; changing a background color of the zone; changing a size of thezone; increasing size of text within the zone; or inverting the video ofthe zone.
 12. The one or more processor-accessible storage media asrecited in claim 5, further comprising: detecting that at least oneaction button of the one or more floating action button icons isactivated using a standard activation mechanism; when at least oneaction button icon is detected to be activated using the standardactivation mechanism, implementing an action corresponding to theactivated at least one action button icon; detecting that at least oneaction button of the one or more floating action button icons isactivated using a non-standard activation mechanism; and when at leastone action button is detected to be activated using the non-standardactivation mechanism, presenting a context menu that is related to anaction corresponding to the activated at least one action button icon.13. A method comprising: determining, by a computer processor, that afocus has entered a hot zone; causing presentation of one or morefloating action buttons when the focus is determined to have entered thehot zone, the one or more floating action buttons associated with thehot zone and configured to reveal a group of items upon activation;presenting, upon activation of one of the floating action buttons, thegroup of items proximate to the hover over zone; and affecting aselected object upon activation of one of the group of items.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the one or more floating action buttonsrelate to a context of the hot zone.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinthe context comprises operations commonly used with respect to theselected object.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising applyinga graphical halo effect to the hot zone when focused on the hot zone.17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the presenting comprisesdisplaying the group of items within a bubble when otherwise obscured bythe floating action button.
 18. The method as recited in claim 13,wherein the presenting comprises displaying the floating action buttonicons such that at least one action button icon of the floating actionbutton icons at least partially overlaps the hot zone.
 19. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising: detecting that at least one action buttonof the one or more floating action button icons is activated using astandard activation mechanism; when at least one action button icon isdetected to be activated using the standard activation mechanism,implementing an action corresponding to the activated at least oneaction button icon; detecting when at least one action button of the oneor more floating action button icons is activated using a non-standardactivation mechanism; and when at least one action button is detected tobe activated using the non-standard activation mechanism, presenting acontext menu that is related to an action corresponding to the activatedat least one action button icon.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein thestandard activating mechanism comprises a left mouse click and thenon-standard activating mechanism comprises a right mouse click.